With a set date to return on August 1st, everyone is talking. Everyone has had time to think of their off-season moves, more than usual. The flat salary cap poses issues, not only for general managers but also for upcoming free agent players who won’t be able to cash in. For today’s NHL rumours Arizona Coyotes forward Taylor Hall, the Boston Bruins and 2020 draft-eligible prospect Marco Rossi will be under the microscope.
NHL Rumours
Arizona Coyotes
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman said on Writers Bloc that he expects Arizona Coyotes forward Taylor Hall to prioritize winning over money as a free agent.
Friedman on Writers Bloc talking about NHL UFAs, says if anyone goes off the board to put themselves in a winning situation, it'll be Taylor Hall. He's been in a lot of losing situations & he's tried of it, he's made a lot of money in his career, winning is his #1 priority now.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 14, 2020
Analysis: Taylor Hall has been a perennial star on consistently poor teams. After only playing a total five playoff games in his career, it makes sense that Hall would hope to go to a contender. Any number of teams could use Taylor Hall on their roster, especially if he has little consideration for money.
This is the ideal year for Hall to take less money for a chance to win. With a flat cap coming, teams will not be able to spend the same money on free agents. Big-ticket free agents would normally suffer. He can look to take a lesser, short term deal with a contender like the Colorado Avalanche or Carolina Hurricanes.
Any team that acquires Hall, especially at a discount, will be a better team for it. He can be a piece that puts a contender above the rest, or a player that turns a fringe team into a playoff team. As a former league MVP, the price would normally be especially high, which may chase off potential suitors for a player of Halls age and with his injury history. With a lower cost, however, that could provide a lot more suitors than normal.
Boston Bruins
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman states that Torey Krug would like to stay with the Boston Bruins if at all possible going into his unrestricted free agency.
EF adds that we will see if Boston will be able to find a way to keep him, but there will be a market for Krug, who can also increase his value with a good playoff.
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) July 14, 2020
Analysis: Torey Krug has been a staple on the Bruins blueline for years now, and is moving into unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career. He is consistently one of the higher scoring defencemen in the league. Krug has posted multiple 50+ point seasons and was on pace for another in 2019-20 prior to the shutdown. The Bruins have been a dominant team for years now, and Krug has been no small part of that.
The Bruins will be working hard in order to keep Krug who, along with Charlie McAvoy, is the best defenceman on the roster. Krug could make a lot of money as one of the top free-agent defencemen despite the flat cap. If Krug were to take a hometown discount to stay on such a successful team the Bruins would be in a strong position moving forward. If Krug were to sign for less, that would allow the Bruins to still sign Jake Debrusk, the other big free agent this off-season for Boston.
Similar to Hall, it seems that Krug could prioritize winning over money. However, Krug is already on a successful team so he would be able to stay with his current team to continue to see success. This would make things significantly easier for GM Don Sweeney as he could have the money to sign DeBrusk as well should a hometown discount be in the cards.
Marco Rossi
Rumour: Marco Rossi will not start the season in Switzerland.
NATIONAL LEAGUE: Marco Rossi will not start the season in Switzerland #ZSCLions #NHL https://t.co/WuuARtMwNg
— swisshockeynews.ch (@SwissHockeyNews) July 14, 2020
Analysis: With the NHL being one of the few leagues worldwide not cancelling their playoffs, that pushes the draft back to October 9th and 10th, potentially clashing with other league’s ideal start dates. Marco Rossi, a top prospect for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has said he will not begin the season in Switzerland. He cites the potential for injury before the draft as the reason and will not be signing with the ZSC Lions, at least right away.
Rossi has been invited to practice with the Lions in August, despite not yet signing a contract. This will give him time to practice before the draft and to be in shape for an upcoming season, no matter where he plays it. Rossi was a part of the Lions organization before he went overseas to play in Canada with the OHL’s Ottawa 67s. With Rossi haven grown up in Switzerland, it would make sense if he were to go back. If he were not to make the NHL straight away, this would allow him to still make money before making the jump to the big leagues, similar to what Auston Matthews did prior to being drafted in 2016.
When being projected to be such a high pick, it isn’t unheard of to make the NHL as soon as they’re drafted. Every player is different, however, and should the season for the Lions begin on time, it also wouldn’t be unreasonable for Rossi to spend the season there.
That’s all for this NHL Rumours! Check in again later for even more NHL Rumours as we prepare for the play-in series!
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